Safety device for high chair trays



May 15, 1951 P. .1. KEOUGH SAFETY DEVICE FOR HIGH CHAIR TRAYS Filed June 18. 1948 I 4 "I """l "a v Q 5555 E h Patented May 15, 1951 SAFETY DEVICE FOR HIGH CHAIR TRAYS Patrick J. Keough, Gardner, Mass, assignor to Arlington Chair Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 18, 1948, Serial No. 33,800

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to safety and hygienic devices for high chair trays and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a tray for high chairs having no connection therewith except through a centrally disposed standard depending from the tray and having a detachable, adjustable, locking connection with the seat of a high chair such that the same supports the tray at the center and holds it in position, and at the same time provides a safety and health device for the occupant of the high chair who straddles the standard and cannot slump down nor escape from the chair under the tray, the latter being easily adjusted to be positioned as desired relative to the chair.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a high chair showing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in section, taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, there is illustrated a conventional high chair which is provided with a seat i2 and arms It as is customary. The construction of this high chair is not pertinent to the invention, which may be applied to any high chair or other type of chair comparable thereto.

There is provided a tray generally indicated at It, this tray having any usual or desired conformation or construction but which is not connected to the back of the high chair by swinging arms, in the customary manner; nor is it secured to the arms 14 by any means, but merely rests thereon.

The subject matter which comprises the present invention resides in a standard, strut, or the like element l 8 which is secured to the underneath side of the tray at approximately the center thereof or at any convenient location and which depends therefrom. The standard or strut I 8 is hollow and has a reciprocating plunger 20 normally spring-pressed downwardly within the strut I8 by means of a spring 22. A knob or handle 24 extends through a slot 26 at the forward side of the strut in position where it is not apt to be grasped by the occupant of the chair.

The lower end of the strut i8 is provided with a slide or guide 28 having a pair of side slots for accommodating spaced plates 30 set into the seat and providing a guideway for the strut so that it may be slid from front to rear of the seat and at the same time be firmly secured thereto.

The plunger 20 is provided with a pin 32 which extends through the guide 28 for selective entry into a plurality of holes 34 in the seat so as to lock the tray in adjusted position forwardly and rearwardly of the chair seat, as desired.

From the above it will be seen that this invention provides a safety and hygienic tray for high chairs, in which the strut I8 is a handle for the tray and a support therefor and wherein the plunger 25 provides a locking means whereby the tray is firmly locked in its adjusted position as desired, and in which the guide 23 prevents detachment of the tray except by sliding the strut forwardly sufficiently to clear the seat. At the same time, the occupant of the high chair is not liable to be able to unlatch the pin 20 so that the device is one in which the occupant will be held safely at all times and in which he cannot slump down as is customary with small children.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

i. A high chair and tray therefor comprising a guideway in the seat of the high chair, a tray element separate from the chair, a depending standard on the tray, a plunger in the standard, a spring urging the plunger downwardly toward the chair seat, the latter having a series of holes to receive the plunger to lock the tray to the chair seat, and a plunger operating button extending forwardly of the standard in position to be easily operated from the front of the chair but not by the occupant.

2. A safety tray for a high chair having a seat, back, and arms, comprising a tray element, a standard depending therefrom generally centrally thereof, means forming a slot in the upper surface of the seat running from the front thereof toward the rear, means at the lower end of the standard engaged in the slot, and means to latch the device in adjusted condition in the slot so that the standard is adjustably set as desired at difierent distances from the high chair back.

PATRICK J. KEOUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,959 Hohoif May 4, 189'? 951,145 McGenniss Mar. 8, 1910 1,943,081 Leibo Jan. 9, 1934 1,967,096 McCoy July 1'7, 1934 2,285,845 Stinson June 9, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 216,128 Germany Oct. 13, 1906 

